To my children,
Everyone has hobbies. I enjoy church and Christian fellowship. I love the truth that God reveals through the Scriptures. But I also enjoy reading when I’m alone. I don’t know what hobby you’ve taken an interest in, however, carefully examine each hobby in light of the Scriptures. Our enemy is cunning and has deceived many to follow the unfruitful path of collecting. But the life of a good steward is very fulfilling.
“Use hospitality one to another without grudging. As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”
1 Peter 4:9-10 KJV
Stewardship: In the Beginning
To understand the doctrine of stewardship, we must begin with the very first verse:
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”
Genesis 1:1 KJV
As the Creator of all things, God has absolute, unlimited, and unconditional rights of ownership over all His creation. Everything we have belongs to God – our lives, our time, our talents, our money. We own nothing and failing to start in Genesis 1:1 is like misaligning the top button on our shirt or blouse. Nothing else in Scripture aligns correctly if we overlook the fact that God has full rights of ownership. It’s through this concept that the doctrine of stewardship is understood.
Stewardship identifies God as the owner and man as the manager. Adam, the first man, was to be responsible and manage God’s garden.
“And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.”
Genesis 2:15 KJV
Stewardship is defined as the responsible management of God’s creation. His creation is more than just the physical earth, but includes everything He has created. But I must caution you about the deceitful trap of collecting, which mismanages God’s resources. Collecting is very appealing to many. And almost anything can be collected these days, such as games, stamps, coins and currency, sports cards, comic books, hot wheels, dolls, art, and jewelry. Many collectors claim that their collection is valuable, but let’s start by defining the term value.
Value is the distinctive characteristic(s) of something, which render it useful. (Paraphrased from Webster’s 1828 dictionary.) Catch that definition? It must be useful to have value. Thus, we can conclude:
- If the use is for one’s own purpose, this is its earthly value.
- If the use is for God’s purpose, this is its eternal value.
- But if there is no use, it holds no value.
The Poor Stewardship of Collecting
1. The hobby of collecting is a mismanagement of time.
The hobby of collecting consumes a lot of time, but the return is nil. It includes seeking, locating, acquiring, organizing, cataloging, displaying, storing, and maintaining items. However, time is a gift from God, and nobody knows how much we are allotted. Our time on this earth impacts eternity, either for the good or the bad. We need to live in constant awareness of our ticking clock and learn how to number our days (Psalm 90:12).
“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”
Ephesians 5:15-16 KJV
2. The hobby of collecting is a misallocation of money.
Collecting has an expensive appetite. It won’t seem like it at first, because it always starts small. But as your collection grows larger, your appetite becomes harder to control. Money is only a medium of exchange and should be allocated (or exchanged) for something that’s usable. To purchase something that’s unusable is a complete waste and a mismanagement of financial resources. No person can serve two masters. Collecting is not a hobby, it’s a god.
“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”
Matthew 6:24 KJV
3. The means of collecting is irresponsible and foolish.
To add to one’s collection, a person must make a transaction (an exchange of goods). But since the collected item is not used, it holds no value. However, the person selling the collectible won’t accept anything without value. To acquire an item of interest, you must exchange something of value, to receive something without value. That’s irresponsible and foolish.
“He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.”
Proverbs 22:16 KJV
4. Collections are treasures stored on earth.
Whether a person collects stamps, games, clocks, or anything else, the hobby of collecting is storing for yourself treasures on this earth. However, Jesus tells us to store up for ourselves treasures in heaven. And no person can do both. If a Christian has treasures on this earth, their home in heaven will look bare.
“But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
Matthew 6:20-21 KJV
5. Collections (earthly treasures) will be lost.
Collections can be corrupted or stolen on this earth. But upon the collector’s death, all treasure is left behind for other people and their taking. Then at the end, a new heaven and new earth will be created, and the old one, with all the treasure, will pass away (Revelation 21:1).
“For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.”
1 Timothy 6:7 KJV
But don’t confuse treasure with wealth. They aren’t the same thing. Your treasure is that which is important to you. That’s why Jesus tells us, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
What Collecting is Not
I don’t want any confusion on what collecting is and isn’t. So I’m going to clarify what doesn’t constitute as collecting.
- Collecting is not decorating one’s house or yard.
- Collecting is not buying an item, using it once, and then keeping it when you’re finished. (You might buy books, read them once, and then add them to your library.)
- Collecting is not buying an item with the intent to use it, but you never do.
- Collecting is not buying an item that’s labeled “collector’s edition.” (You might buy a collector’s edition of Monopoly and play it each week with your family. Or you might buy a collector’s edition of stamps, and then use them to mail Christmas cards to your friends and family.)
- Collecting is not buying and reselling.
- Collecting is not saving for a future use.
Characteristics of Stewardship
1. Recognition of Ownership
A steward is one who acts as the manager or administrator on behalf of another. Since God has created all things, He is the owner of all things. To act on His behalf requires our obedience regarding the administration of everything God has placed under our control. Stewardship is placing our person and possessions to God’s service. To act on God’s behalf, a person must know and obey the Scriptures.
“The earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.”
Psalm 24:1 KJV
2. Responsibility
Although, God gives us richly all things to enjoy (1 Timothy 6:17), we own nothing. By contrast, God owns everything, and expects us to be responsible. Many complain about their rights, but a steward asks about their responsibilities. Owners have rights, but stewards have responsibilities. We are to be responsible and manage God’s holdings well and according to His desires and His purposes.
“And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.”
Colossians 3:23-25 KJV
3. Accountability
Since every person is a steward, no one is allowed to rule over themselves and their possessions as they see fit. One day, however, each of us will give an account to the rightful Owner as to how we’ve administered our lives and possessions, including our time, money, abilities, information, wisdom, relationships, and authority.
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”
2 Corinthians 5:10 KJV
4. Reward
Faithful stewards who are responsible and manage the Creator’s resources can expect to be rewarded in the next life. Are you responsible with the music you listen to? Are you responsible with the food you eat? Irresponsibility is the platform of personal preference. By contrast, responsibility is obedience to the Scriptures. We should long to hear the master say:
“Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”
Matthew 25:21 KJV
The hobby of collecting doesn’t measure up to God’s standard. It’s not a personal preference or harmless hobby. Rather, it’s a mismanagement of God’s resources. The devil is cunning and has deceived many to follow this path of poverty – not just physical poverty, but also spiritual poverty.
Avoid this deceitful trap, my children, and find a hobby that glorifies God, so you can enjoy what you do while laying for yourselves treasures up in heaven.
In Christ’s love,
Dad
📚 Lesson 3: A Lesson in Stewardship
Striking Down the Home 